Mia’s Dream Come True — Hayward

So much to do and see at this brand new all-abilities playground in South Hayward. This fully gated playground is the new addition to Tennyson park (Tennyson park also has a baseball field and skate park). It has a very open play format that allows for lots of people to be around but also allows for decent separation.

This park was created from major efforts of local donors and the vision of Mia’s parents to get an all abilities park in Hayward for their daughter Mia and other families with special needs children.

The park features elements of Hayward created into areas of play. At the entrance there is a boat & humpback whales for climbing (both push out mist but not enough to count as a splash pad), a merry go round & rubber flooring to represent Hayward Shoreline. A Hayward Fire Truck that doubles as a play house with surrounding rolling pin slide, a climbing rope, double rider rocking toys, & an awesome trampoline. A plane for Hayward Airport that doubles as a swing set with other all abilities swings, bucket swings, standard swings & a Liberty Swing (a swing that fits an entire wheel chair ). A miniature version of the Hayward water tower that is also a lookout deck & slide. A covered barn with climbing tree stumps, a big climb on caterpillar, a wide slide, huge flower sculpture & cute animal cutouts representing Sulphur Creek. Tucked behind the Sulphur Creek barn are different climbing option on rubber hills to represent the Hayward Hills plus a standing teeter totter that looks like a bridge wide enough to fit a wheel chair.

Other areas in the park include a quiet corner with reading chairs & two little free libraries, a mallet, drums & electric musical area, & a natural ground area with climbing rock (nearly all other flooring is AstroTurf or rubber foam flooring).

There are so many sitting spots and nearly every inch is wheelchair accessible.

There are designated handicap parking spots up front but street parking otherwise. There are very nice state of the art exeloo toilets (seriously check them out…music plays while you use it & the toilet flushes when you wash your hands )

This park really is a dream!